Summilux 28 Performance at Infinity

[BJohn]

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I repurchased the Lux 28, don't ask me about that please. Anyway, I did a few shots at Infinity and wondered whether the performance is okay or if my sample is a bit off. Focus feels perfect from 0.7m to Infinity. My rational brain tells me: this is normal.

L1000042 is at F1.4

L1000043 is at F2.0

L1000044 is at F2.8

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/m868zaxavnocbknf72twz/AL0YeC54lWVJVO2VHI6HA3s?rlkey=tl7bw3ikdkuk8jg1do4fg1rtk&dl=0

Reason I ask this is because I stumbled upon a thread from Fred Miranda and also had in mind that the sharpness at Infinity wide open was a little better. But maybe, and that is probably the truth, I am just off and rethinking my sample too hard as my impression in near focus range (0.7m to 1.5m) is as perfectly calibrated.

Thanks in advance!

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[BJohn]

Hm I realized that my lens has a little "move" (see yellow area), about 0.5mm. If I correct that move by pushing the front of the lens to the sky (hope that makes sense), the focus issue resolves, cf. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zopu3jyfvmrack58hmnvv/AF5SsalXjh_NzxG92qxBigA?rlkey=4sdlqf5vt7rbb53lmm7fojvsu&dl=0

If I ‘take out’ this play and press upwards with my hand from below, the focal plane shifts.

L1000068.jpg (open aperture, infinity, F1.4, M11P, without ‘compensation’ of the play): Focus does not fit.
L1000069.jpg (open aperture, infinity, F1.4, M11P, with compensation): Focus fits.

Anybody had a similar issue?

Edited July 12 by BJohn

[lct]

Your lens sems to have some play indeed. I would return it if it is still under warranty.

[BJohn]

2 minutes ago, lct said:

Your lens sems to have some play indeed. I would return it if it is still under warranty.

I just bought it few days ago

[spydrxx]

When you bought it has little to do with whether it has excess play. Often a minor adjustment, whether new or used corrects the issue. 

[RMF]

Yes, I have encountered the same “play” with a 28 Summilux (which I purchased new and used for a couple years before the “play” developed. Seemed to be a minor issue as DAG quickly resolved it for me (and at the same time DAG smoothed up the focus).  I have heard/read on the forums that the 24 Lux also sometimes suffer from this known issue. 

[BJohn]

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23 minutes ago, RMF said:

Yes, I have encountered the same “play” with a 28 Summilux (which I purchased new and used for a couple years before the “play” developed. Seemed to be a minor issue as DAG quickly resolved it for me (and at the same time DAG smoothed up the focus).  I have heard/read on the forums that the 24 Lux also sometimes suffer from this known issue. 

Thanks, still a bit annoying to see a newly bought lens flying away for a few weeks to Customer Care.

[lct]

2 hours ago, BJohn said:

Thanks, still a bit annoying to see a newly bought lens flying away for a few weeks to Customer Care.

Annoying indeed and, to me, unacceptable. I don't know what your local laws say about that but in my case, i would accept it no way no have a new lens repaired, i did not pay for that. The only solution, to me, would be a refund but again i don't know what your laws say about that.

[LeicaR10]

BJohn,   Since your lens is brand new, I would box it up and return it and get a refund.  Then buy another, "new" one.  Don't waste your time with warranty work if you have trip pending.  If it goes back to Wetzlar, you might not see it for 1/2 year due to the backlog.   The 28 Lux is a stellar lens and for the cost, should perform within specs.  r/ Mark

[FDS]

@BJohn

Given the usual constraints, I would say that the performance of your 28 'lux is similar to my four year old example, purchased new.  In general, closing down to f2 really cleans things up a lot, both in showing finest details and reducing CA. Such a landscape shot made wide-open at infinity is a highly demanding test for a very fast 28mm lens and I wouldn't make a photo with such a setting unless desperate.  

Mine also suffers from a bit of similar 'play' that developed after a couple of years.  It was once corrected by Leica but soon reappeared. I had it checked again in Wetzlar very recently and was told not to worry about it as the lens performs well within spec and even to wait a good while before having an overhaul. Although the 'wiggle' is annoying, I don't detect any further detraction from the results obtained.

Sometimes, I feel annoyed by the weight and bulk of the 28 'lux but each time I test it against a new or used 28 Summicron or Elmarit (any model), using an M11 or M11M, it emerges at least as good and usually better.  Also, the 35mm and 28mm focal lengths are my most used and the 'lux offers the most distinctive image (especially at f1.4) from my 35 APO.  So, I keep it.   

Edited July 14 by FDS

[caf]

I went through a couple of copies of the 28 Lux and while it's a wonderful lens, decided to cut my losses and go for a 28 Summicron close focus and it's a game changer for me, more versatile and easier to carry. Both copies of my 28 Lux developed lens wiggle/play. The second one had it fixed by Leica under warranty but it didn't fully address the issues.

[BJohn]

On 7/14/2025 at 1:35 AM, LeicaR10 said:

BJohn,   Since your lens is brand new, I would box it up and return it and get a refund.  Then buy another, "new" one.  Don't waste your time with warranty work if you have trip pending.  If it goes back to Wetzlar, you might not see it for 1/2 year due to the backlog.   The 28 Lux is a stellar lens and for the cost, should perform within specs.  r/ Mark

Check, I will get a replacement lens

[BJohn]

5 hours ago, caf said:

I went through a couple of copies of the 28 Lux and while it's a wonderful lens, decided to cut my losses and go for a 28 Summicron close focus and it's a game changer for me, more versatile and easier to carry. Both copies of my 28 Lux developed lens wiggle/play. The second one had it fixed by Leica under warranty but it didn't fully address the issues.

That is very sad to here as it’s not just the play but a little shift of the focus plane. May not be an issue in close range or at infinity but it is an imperfection in a lens built for perfection, also in terms of price.

[BJohn]

11 hours ago, FDS said:

@BJohn

Given the usual constraints, I would say that the performance of your 28 'lux is similar to my four year old example, purchased new.  In general, closing down to f2 really cleans things up a lot, both in showing finest details and reducing CA. Such a landscape shot made wide-open at infinity is a highly demanding test for a very fast 28mm lens and I wouldn't make a photo with such a setting unless desperate.  

Mine also suffers from a bit of similar 'play' that developed after a couple of years.  It was once corrected by Leica but soon reappeared. I had it checked again in Wetzlar very recently and was told not to worry about it as the lens performs well within spec and even to wait a good while before having an overhaul. Although the 'wiggle' is annoying, I don't detect any further detraction from the results obtained.

Sometimes, I feel annoyed by the weight and bulk of the 28 'lux but each time I test it against a new or used 28 Summicron or Elmarit (any model), using an M11 or M11M, it emerges at least as good and usually better.  Also, the 35mm and 28mm focal lengths are my most used and the 'lux offers the most distinctive image (especially at f1.4) from my 35 APO.  So, I keep it.   

It may work in a perfect way in a lab setup, depends on how the lens is „held“. The focus plane shifts in a significant way you can clearly see it in my example shots. I can provoke that also close focus but it is not that obvious. It is a flaw in a very expensive lens; that being said, if the price does not give you a perfect lens, you can just go to Voigtlander, honestly speaking. And that sentence may do injustice to Voigtlander. Anyway, the look of the Lux 28 is still different and that rendering is my reason to spend that amount of money on a single lens.

Edited July 15 by BJohn

[BJohn]

Got a replacement, works like a charm, close focus and infinity. No play at all. Still wondering if that's a design flaw that it can occur after some time. Anyway, happy for now  

[darlesch]

Could you kindly clarify where the wiggle is on the lens? Image seems to be removed. I have the same lens and want to check my copy. Thanks.

[BJohn]

2 hours ago, darlesch said:

Could you kindly clarify where the wiggle is on the lens? Image seems to be removed. I have the same lens and want to check my copy. Thanks.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zopu3jyfvmrack58hmnvv/AF5SsalXjh_NzxG92qxBigA?rlkey=86tv8s0v4w5vhy3ltvy5steet&st=pwhm906x&dl=0

 

Shared it again! Yes, the wiggle is in the yellow area and hence the resulting focus plane shift.

[FDS]

Following up from my post no. 10 above, I have just purchased a mint second hand 28  Elmarit-ASPH v2 that is calibrated correctly for my M11 bodies. The small size and light weight feels marvelous after coping with the 28 'lux. I also like the punchiness of the contrast in certain situations as well as the near absence of CA.  

I'm now selling my 'lux on a commission basis with my dealer. This is in spite of retesting my 'lux and finding the difference between wide-open and stopped down not appearing as pronounced as BJohn's example. 

 

 

Edited August 3 by FDS

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[darlesch]

While mine doesn't have a wiggle, it clearly has suboptimal performance shooting wide open at infinity similar to others here i.e. front focused.  I've accepted this is as a widespread problem, and if it hasn't developed yet, it seems to over time. By applying pressure to the focus tab when shooting f/1.4 at infinity, the focus is better.

I would like to keep my copy but the way I shoot it is this:

MFD to Mid-Distances: f/1.4 is usable

>5m and beyond: f/2.0 and above (f/2.8 is more ideal)